"How Is Your Hearing"

The afternoon message on Sunday was from James 1:19-20. Here's the outline, with a few of Pastor's comments:

We tend toward a slowness in listening. We also tend to be quick to speak and/or to get energized. Wrath refers to an inner disposition of passion or impulse; inner energy. It also describes God's legitimate anger. (cf. John 3:36 and Romans 1:18). Revelation 6:16-17 shows God's final and fierce judgment on sin.

Awareness of deliberate deafness needs to be cultivated. If we are not hearing God's Word we cannot be changed by it. James warns against speaking too much but doesn't say anything about listening too much. Our souls must be humbled (Proverbs 13:10). Why don't we listen? Because we are consumed with ourselves, with our own thoughts, or our own conclusions. We fail to see ourselves as learners because we trust what we have already assumed to be true. God made us to hear because He is a speaking God. (Deuteronomy 30:20; Psalm 95:7-8). Pride hinders our listening (Jeremiah 13:10 - the problem). Zechariah 7:13 - the result. Any non-communication between God and us is not because God has not spoken but because we are not listening. Our tongues must be rested (I Samuel 3; Isaiah 50:4). We would rather talk than listen. It is intolerably rude to not listen when someone is speaking--first and foremost, when God is speaking! Our minds must be engaged. Mental energy and attentiveness is needed. Our spirits must be receptive. We have no excuse as believers for being poor listeners. They make bad disciples.

Attention to disciplined listening needs to be cultivated (Ephesians 4:25). Communication requires hearing and digesting (Proverbs 15:12, 22). Relationships demand learning and adjusting (Proverbs 12:15). Sanctification assumes needing and pursuing (Proverbs 15:31).

Advancement in devoted ministry needs to be a priority. Motive is crucial to progress. Patterns are difficult to alter. Benefits are appreciated only with time. Discipleship is possible only through exchange (Proverbs 18:13).

Application? Communion is deepened through communication. Community requires developing communication. Compassion depends on communication. Commitment is demanded for communication.

We cannot communicate with each other if we do not talk to each other. We do not want superficial application. Listening and working together is required. How many times do we assume wrongly? We cannot see into other people's hearts, so we must not make assumptions about what others are thinking in their soul. If we do, assumptions rule, which is not a good thing.